Dhamari Jordan, Cocaine Trafficking, Massachusetts 2023

Notorious Bloods Gang Member Sentenced to 29 Years for Cocaine Trafficking

BOLIVIA, N.C. – In a major blow to organized crime, Nicholas Shamar Griffin, a high-ranking member of the Bloods street gang in Brunswick County, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison for his role in a massive cocaine trafficking operation.

Griffin, 35, was one of 26 defendants convicted as part of a sprawling investigation dubbed Operation Hell Swamp, launched in 2017 by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

During the investigation, agents seized over a dozen firearms, as well as significant quantities of fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and cocaine, with estimated street values in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Griffin, who was on federal supervised release at the time of the offense, was implicated in multiple violent gang-related incidents, including a shooting, and was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base (crack).

Some of the other defendants convicted in the Operation Hell Swamp investigation include Covia Dzell Smith, who was sentenced to 25 years for his role as a violent, high-level member of the Bloods gang, and Deonte Xavier Bigelow, who was sentenced to 10 years for his involvement in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.

The convictions are a significant victory for law enforcement, who worked tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle the Bloods gang’s operations in Brunswick County.

In addition to Griffin, the following defendants were sentenced in connection with Operation Hell Swamp:

Nicholas Shamar Griffin, 7:18-CR-00174-D-1: Pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base (crack). Sentence: 350 months’ imprisonment.

Covia Dzell Smith, 7:18-cr-00093-D-1: Convicted at trial of distribution of cocaine, marijuana. Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment.

Freeman Hankins Jr., 7:17-cr-00110-BR-1: Pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentence: 75 months’ imprisonment.

Deontray Tremell Bryant, 7:17-cr-00150-FL-1: Pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin. Sentence: 70 months’ imprisonment.

Deonte Xavier Bigelow, 7:17-cr-00165-BR-1: Pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Sentence: 120 months’ imprisonment.

Courtnae Shantae Wiley, 7:17-cr-00165-BR-2: Pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Sentence: 5 years’ probation.

Delmas C. Gause, 7:18-cr-00005-BR-1: Pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine. Sentence: 71 months’ imprisonment.

Michael Montray Frink, 7:18-cr-00033-BO-1: Pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentence: 117 months’ imprisonment.

Alex Alterick Hamilton, 7:18-cr-00034-BO-1: Pled guilty to distribution of cocaine. Sentence: 120 months’ imprisonment.

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